MICHAEL GOVE railed against Brexit doom-mongers insisting the UK can make better fisheries and other laws once it quits the European Union.

The Environment Secretary said Remainers who thought leaving the European Union would mean a “deterioration” in environmental standards were “precisely wrong”.

Speaking on the Today programme, on BBC Radio 4, Mr Gove said new UK legislation after Brexit was an opportunity to replace “poor” EU legislation.

He added it could lead to higher animal welfare standards.

Mr Gove said: “It’s better to have an absolutely well-designed piece of UK legislation rather than a poorly designed piece of EU legislation.

GETTY•CHANNEL 4

Michael Gove said the UK would improve environmental standards after Brexit

It’s better to have an absolutely well-designed piece of UK legislation

Michael Gove

“I think one of the problems that some people have is they somehow believe that leaving the EU automatically means a deterioration in either animal welfare or environmental standards or in any other area and that, to my mind, gets things precisely wrong.

“There is a particular belief somehow that outside the European Union, our democratic institutions can’t do better than we did in the EU.

“We’ve got to say that Parliament is an effective and vigorous institution, which can ensure protection for human rights and for animal rights.

“One of things about leaving the European Union is it means we’re free of the Common Agricultural Policy, free of the Common Fisheries Policy, able to have higher environmental and higher animal welfare standards.

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"Taking back control” from Brussels has long been a key campaign point for Brexiteers, and last August, Mrs May insisted the jurisdiction of the ECJ will come to an end with Brexit.

But the Prime Minister later conceded, in October, the UK will still be bound by the ECJ’s ruling during any Brexit transition period, if it is agreed.

With the ECJ debate very much still up in the air, Mr Johnson and Mr Gove wrote: “There should be no question of the UK implementing new EU rules during this period, or ECJ jurisdiction on any new rules. Clarifying that in the minds of colleagues who have not yet internalised that logic would help.”